Communications Plan
The Communications Plan is a recurring strategic theme across two municipal bodies. 7 separate matters touch this plan or program; each has its own status.
Beacon Landing
Beacon Landing is a 54-unit supportive affordable housing development in the city, developed in partnership by Wesley Housing and the Lamb Center. The project drew on 23 separate financing sources, including a $700,000 gap financing investment from the city's Housing Trust Fund in February 2023 — a critical contribution that enabled the project to assemble its full financing stack.
- December 2nd Council Presentation
The Communications Plan was listed as strategy 3a under the Build Public Awareness and Strategic Partnerships goal in the HHCAB workplan.
Pathway Homes
Pathway Homes is a nonprofit organization headquartered in Fairfax City that provides housing and supportive services to low-income residents. Its primary tracked project involves the redevelopment of a building at 4010 University Drive (Tax Map 57-4-02-087-B) in the CR Commercial Retail Zoning District and Old Town Fairfax Historic Overlay District.
- December 2nd Council Presentation
The Communications Plan was listed as strategy 3a under the Build Public Awareness and Strategic Partnerships goal in the HHCAB workplan.
The Botanist
- December 2nd Council Presentation
The Communications Plan was listed as strategy 3a under the Build Public Awareness and Strategic Partnerships goal in the HHCAB workplan.
Davies Property
The Davies Property refers to the redevelopment of 4131 Chain Bridge Road (a ~2.69-acre site currently containing a large vacant house), proposed by The Hill, A Davies Family, LLC. The application sought to rezone the parcel from RM (Residential Medium) to CU (Commercial Urban), retaining the Old Town Fairfax Transition Overlay District (TOD), with a General Development Plan for a mixed-use building of up to 276 apartments, approximately 10,796 sq ft of ground-floor commercial space, and a 3-level below-grade parking garage.
- December 2nd Council Presentation
The Communications Plan was listed as strategy 3a under the Build Public Awareness and Strategic Partnerships goal in the HHCAB workplan.
Fairfax Square
Fairfax Square Professional Center (9840–9946 Main Street) is a ~10.4-acre commercial site on the north side of Main Street, adjacent to the Fairfax Square garden-style apartment complex. The property owner (Van Meter Companies) is proposing a phased mixed-use redevelopment that would demolish most of the existing low-slung commercial buildings while retaining the five-story office building and an existing bank; the concept calls for roughly 300 new apartment units in two or three buildings, along with some ground-floor retail (~10,000 sq. ft.).
- December 2nd Council Presentation
The Communications Plan was listed as strategy 3a under the Build Public Awareness and Strategic Partnerships goal in the HHCAB workplan.
The City of Fairfax 2035 Comprehensive Plan is the city's primary long-range land use and policy document, guiding development, housing, transportation, and related decisions. A five-year review process culminated on October 8, 2024, when City Council unanimously adopted Resolution R-24-30 approving the updated plan dated September 27, 2024.
- December 2nd Council Presentation
The Communications Plan was listed as strategy 3a under the Build Public Awareness and Strategic Partnerships goal in the HHCAB workplan.
The Housing and Homelessness Strategic Plan is a City of Fairfax initiative to develop a comprehensive affordable housing and homelessness strategy, undertaken in partnership with national consulting firm Thomas P. Miller and Associates (TPMA).
- Developing HHCAB's Workplan
A recommendation was made to develop a communications framework (rather than a full plan) early, outlining a messaging approach applicable to each strategy; Judith Cabelli was named champion of the Communications/Awareness Strategy Team.
- Jan 27, 2025School Board · item 1.04Review and Finalize February Retreat Agenda
[1.04] Ms. Pitches added a Communications Plan item to the February retreat agenda.
In full
It was first surfaced on January 27, 2025, when Ms. Pitches added it as an item to the February School Board retreat agenda.
Separately, within the Housing and Homelessness Community Advisory Board (HHCAB), a communications effort has been developed as part of the board's broader workplan. At the July 7, 2025 HHCAB meeting, the board opted to develop a communications framework — rather than a full plan — to outline a messaging approach applicable to each strategy, with Judith Cabelli named as champion of the Communications/Awareness Strategy Team. By December 1, 2025, the Communications Plan had been formally situated as Strategy 3a under the "Build Public Awareness and Strategic Partnerships" goal in the HHCAB workplan, and was included in the presentation prepared for City Council on December 2, 2025.
The December 2 presentation framed the Communications Plan as integral to HHCAB's outreach and partnership work with seniors and the faith community, to be activated as other workplan items (such as Home Sharing and Housing Trust Fund) progress.